[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13545-13546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5378]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 99N-1168]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 00-048N]


Relative Risk to Public Health From Foodborne Listeria 
Monocytogenes Among Selected Categories of Ready-to-Eat Foods; Draft 
Risk Assessment Document and Risk Management Action Plan; Availability; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS, and Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in cooperation with 
the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
published a notice of availability of a draft risk assessment on the 
relationship between foodborne Listeria monocytogenes and human health 
and a proposed risk management action plan for L. monocytogenes in the 
Federal Register of January 19, 2001. Interested persons were given 
until March 20, 2001, to comment on these documents. Because a public 
meeting to receive comments on these documents has been scheduled close 
to the end of the comment period and in response to the requests of the 
National Food Processors Association and the LM Working Group for an 
extension of the comment period, FDA and FSIS are extending the comment 
period until May 21, 2001.

DATES: Submit written comments by May 21, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch 
(HFA-305), Docket No. 99N-1168, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1060, Rockville, MD 20852. Two copies of any comments 
are to be submitted, except that individuals may submit one copy. 
Received comments may be reviewed at the FDA Dockets Management branch 
(address above) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Submit one original and two copies of written comments to FSIS 
Docket Clerk, Docket No. 00-048N, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, rm. 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700. All comments submitted in response to 
this notice will be available for public inspection in the Docket 
Clerk's office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    For information concerning the draft risk assessment document: 
Sherri B. Dennis, Risk Assessment Coordinator, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-032), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C 
St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-260-3984, FAX 202-260-9653, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    For information concerning the risk management action plan: Kathy 
Gombas, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-615), Food 
and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-205-
4231, FAX 202-260-0136, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of January 19, 2001, 
(66 FR 5515), the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA 
announced the availability of two documents: A draft risk assessment on 
the relationship between foodborne L. monocytogenes and human health 
and a draft risk management action plan. Comments were sought on the 
technical aspects of the draft risk assessment in the following areas: 
(1) The assumptions made, (2) the modeling technique, (3) the data 
used, and (4) the transparency of the draft risk assessment document. 
The agencies also invited comments on the risk management strategies as 
presented in the draft action plan. Interested persons were given until 
March 20, 2001, to comment on the draft risk assessment and draft risk 
management action plan. Because a public meeting to receive comments on 
these documents has been scheduled close to the end of the comment 
period, and in response to the requests of the National Food Processors 
Association and the LM Working scheduled close to the end of the 
comment period, and in response to the requests of the National Food 
Processors Association and the LM Working Group for an extension of the 
comment period, FDA and FSIS are extending the comment period until May 
21, 2001.
    To be considered, submit written comments to FDA Dockets Management 
Branch or the FSIS Dockets Clerk (addresses above) by May 21, 2001.
    Printed copies of the draft risk assessment and the risk management 
action plan may be requested by faxing your name and mailing address 
with the

[[Page 13546]]

names of the documents you are requesting to the CFSAN Outreach and 
Information Center at 1-877-366-3322. The documents may be reviewed at 
the FDA Dockets Management Branch or the FSIS Docket Clerk's Office at 
the addresses and hours noted above. The draft risk assessment and the 
draft risk management action plan documents are also available 
electronically as follows: www.cfsan.fda.gov, www.fsis.usda.gov, 
www.foodsafety.gov. The draft risk assessment is also available 
electronically at www.foodriskclearinghouse.umd.edu.

    Dated: February 28, 2001.
Ann M. Witt,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 01-5378 Filed 3-1-01; 4:23 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S